NCAI Voted in Three AIGC Alumni to Their Leadership Team

Published November 3, 2019

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  Three American Indian Graduate Center (AIGC) alumni were elected to the National Congress of American Indians’ executive committee last week where they will serve for the next two years.  

AIGC Alumni, Fawn Sharp

Fawn Sharp, president of the Quinault Nation, overwhelmingly won the presidency earning nearly 62 percent of the vote in a field of four candidates. She will serve as the organization’s 23rd president, although she is only the third woman to lead the intertribal congress. Aaron Payment, chairman of Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, was re-elected first vice president and Juana Majel-Dixon of the Pauma Band of Mission Indians was re-elected as the secretary. Clinton Lageson of the Kenaitze Tribe, friends of AIGC, ran unopposed for the treasurer position.

“AIGC is proud of our scholars representing the Native community in such an influential and impactful way. Their success is a testament to our 50-year legacy of dedication and commitment to supporting American Indian and Alaska Native students throughout their higher education journey and beyond,” said Angelique Albert, AIGC Executive Director.

“At this moment I am incredibly overwhelmed with excitement. I’m still in disbelief. But I’m also incredibly honored to be here in this place at this time,” Sharp said.

AIGC Alumni, Aaron Payment

Clinton Lageson with Angelique Albert

“This is a new day and a new chapter and I’m so looking forward to spending this next chapter of my leadership and calling to serve all of Indian Country.”

NCAI is organized as a representative congress of American Indians and Alaska Natives that serves to develop consensus on national priority issues that impact tribal sovereignty. Members elect their executive committee via popular vote.

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